states senate. >> reporter: earlier kerry was greeted by cheers. it is a committee he led the past four years. >> first of all, you had a -- lightning-speed approval of the committee unanimously. >> reporter: kerry says he hopes the approval is part of the greater bipartisanship. >> there is so much on plate. we need to find a way to work together. i hope this is a symbol people are really prepared to do that. >> reporter: outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton recognized a deep divisions in congress have hurt progress. >> you can't let compromise become a dirt write word because then you veer towards fanaticism. >> reporter: she laid out the complicated map kerry would navigate. security challenges in north africa and the middle east. departmental changes in response to that deadly terrorist attack in benghazi, libya. >> every day a mixture of trying to end crises, help people be smart about using the tools of american diplomacy. >> reporter: kerry's colleagues say he is ready for the challenges. >> respect his work in the senate, his knowled